Cro Cop in the fight with Bonjasky dictated the pace from the moment the bell sounded, he was constantly coming forward. Bonjasky tried using his reach (which I think Kongo will do) and Mirko hung in the pocket and caught him as he stepped into the punches/kicks.

Kongo and Bonjasky are by no means the same fighter, and this is MMA, not K-1. But I think that if Kongo tries making a kickboxing match out of this, he's going to get TKO'd in the 2nd round like Remy did.

If this doesn't end up with Cro Cop TKOing Cheik, I see Cro Cop submitting him via guillotine which is a very under-used but effective tool in Mirko's arsenal.

Taking this fight to the ground is Kongo's best bet and I think he knows it, so don't be too surprised to see him shoot in tomorrow.

Once again, my prediction is Cro Cop via TKO in the 2nd.

Aaronyman

09-07-2007 07:37 PM

I doubt Mirko will throw any kicks for the first 2 minutes, he'll probably just try and throw hands at the first, find his range. But in the last 20 seconds of round 1, I see him landing a LHK and Kongo dropping.

Aaronyman

09-07-2007 07:41 PM

and as strong as kongo looks...his punches aren't very fast or hard IMO...

Fedor>all

09-07-2007 07:43 PM

I think Kongo will open up with the leg kicks first and I see Cro Cop just checking them or simply catching them and chopping him down or throwing his straight left.

Kongo's chin is VERY suspect, out of the fights I've seen him get knocked down/KO'd it has been single strikes that have done him in. Gilbert Yvel is a strong puncher, but I really think Cro Cop has more power.

Robopencil

09-07-2007 07:51 PM

Good write-up, but I don't think I believe that taking the fight to the ground is Kongo's best chance. I don't think Kongo's ground game is anywhere near Mirko's. I think he's in a bad place anywhere they are.

Aaronyman

09-07-2007 07:55 PM

I considered a while ago if I'd take cro cop via submission to a nearly KO'd Kongo...but nah

Robopencil

09-07-2007 07:57 PM

He could potentially pull off a sub, but he's more of a defensive grappler. People really underestimate just how good his defensive style of BJJ is.

Fedor>all

09-07-2007 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robopencil

Good write-up, but I don't think I believe that taking the fight to the ground is Kongo's best chance. I don't think Kongo's ground game is anywhere near Mirko's. I think he's in a bad place anywhere they are.

Thanks!

The only reason I say Kongo's ground game is his best chance is after watching the Yvel fight. Gilbert was in some very nasty submissions (Kimura, Guillotine, etc) and Kongo just over-powered him with his Greco clinch.

Mirko has a good guard, but Kongo in a dominant position is really dangerous. It should be a good fight, but I really think Mirko has the advantage all around, like you said :thumb02: